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FRIDAY,AUGUST 17, 2012 MADISON COUNTY FOOTBALL PREVIEWRichmond Register 5MADISON SOUTHERNBIGGER,STRONGERAND FASTERHard work in weight room should helpEagles compete for a district titeBy Tim MandellRegister Sports WriterMadisonSouthern EaglesAug. 24 @ Bourbon Co. 7:30 p.m.Aug. 31 @ Lynn Camp 7:30 p.m.Sep. 7 Wayne Co. 7:30 p.m.Sep. 14 Powell Co. 7:30 p.m.Sep. 21 @ Southwestern 7:30 p.m.Sep. 28 @ Lincoln Co. 7:30 p.m.Oct. 5 Pulaski Co. 7:30 p.m.Oct. 12 N. Laurel 7:30 p.m.Oct. 19 @ South Laurel 7:30 p.m.Oct. 26 @ Garrard County 7:30 p.m.Above: Madison Southern’sDamien Harris fights off apair of tacklers during agame last season in Berea.Harris played in just sixgames last year, but stillrushed for 742 yards and 11touchdowns on only 62carries.Left: Madison Southern’sCoty Russell fights off atackler during a game lastseason. Last year, Russellrushed 104 times for 790yards and nine touchdowns.REGISTER FILE PHOTOSThe Madison Southern football team enters the 2012season bigger, stronger and loaded with experience.Second-year coach Jon Clark made a commitmentduring the offseason to get the players in the weightroom to bulk up and in the video room to watch gamefilm in an attempt to increase their football knowledge.The end result is an average weightgain of 20-30 pounds per player and amindset that Clark believes will leadto success on the football field.Last year, Southern went 2-8 overalland 1-4 in Class 5A, District 6.Expectations are much higher thisseason.“We’re bigger, we’re stronger, we’refaster and we’re more experienced,”Clark said. “We’re not expecting towin two or three games. Our expectationsare to compete for a district titleand put together a little run in theplayoffs. We have the talent, the questionis, is the football knowledge thereyet, is the football savvy there yet?”Southern struggled on defense lastyear, allowing 407 points (40.7 pergame) and allowed four teams toeclipse the 50-point mark.This year, with the entire startingdefense back, the Eagles expect differentresults.“I think this year our defense isSimpsonStonedrastically improved from last season,” Clark said.Leading the defensive line is senior Brett Sipple (59tackles last season), junior Derek Howard (28 tackles)and Drew Wright, who had four tackles in limited playingtime last season.“Sipple is fast, athletic and physical,” Clark said.“Howard is bench pressing 330 pounds. Wright hasTurn to EAGLES, page 9